Biology- The Scientific Method

What is Biology?

the study of living things

What is Anatomy?

The study of the internal and external structure of plants and animals

What is Biochemistry?

The study of the chemical processes and products involved in metabolism

What is Botany?

The study of plant structure, physiology, distribution and classification

What is ecology?

 The study of how living things relate to each other and to their environment

What is genetics?

 The study of the structure and function of genes and their transmission from parents to offspring

What is microbiology

The study of small living things

What is Physiology

The study of the functions of living organisms and their parts

What is zoology

 The study of animal physiology, structure, habits, classification and distribution

What is the scientific method?

a series of steps taken to explain observations

Steps in the scientific method

• make observations

• form a hypothesis

• design an experiement

• collect and interpert data

• Form a conclusion

• Compare with existing knowledge

• Report and publish results

Hypothesis definition

educated guess based on observations

Experiment defintion

steps taken to test a hypothesis

Conclusion defintion

summary of the results of an experiment

Theory defintion

hypothesis that has been supported by many different experiments

Principal defintion

a proven theory

law defintion

a principal that is believed to be true

Features of a good experimental design

• one independent variable

• large sample size

• use random selection

• repeated 3 times

• ethical

• use control group

• double blind testing

What is a control

sample lacking the variable being tested, ensures it is the variable actually causing the change

Function of a control group

to compare

What is a placebo

a tablet that does not contain substance being investigated

What is double blind testing

both investigator and participant unaware of which group is used as control and which is being tested, used in clinical trials

Limitations of the scientific method

bias, extent of knowledge, interpretation of results, accidental discoveries, application to natural changing world

Accidental discoveries example

Alexander Fleming 1928, left petri dish open and fungus grew, producing penicillin that killed bacteria, now used as an antibiotic

Bias explanation

prior confidence in the hypothesis being true or false can affect accuracy of observation and analysis

Interpretation of results explained and example

different interpretations means results may not get published, eg. Thalidomide treated morning sickness in 1950s, tested on animals but caused limb deformities in humans, withdrawn in 1961

Extent of knowledge defintion

Scientists limited by extent of basic knowledge, leads to inadequate hypotheses

Application to natural changing world explanation

information from organisms in the past may not be valid today

Data defintion

information, especially facts and numbers, collected to be examined and considered

Types of data

qualitative, quantitative, primary, secondary

Qualitative data defintion

descriptions of characteristics or properties

Quantitative data defintion

numerical measurements

Primary data defintion

gathered during first hand investigations

Secondary data defintion

gatherd by someone else